Andre Williams

Williams was one of the worst backs in the league a year ago, averaging just 2.9 YPC and catching only one pass. Williams is big and fast, but doesn't have any wiggle, and his hands are poor. With the...

A fourth-round pick last year, Williams was expected to see a significant role behind unproven lead back Rashad Jennings, and when Jennings battled a late-season ankle injury, Williams didn't disappoint, racking up two 100-yard rushing games in three starts. A thick, squat bull of a running back, Williams' burst and balance allow him to run over and through unprepared tacklers, while his surprising speed for his size can produce big gains once he crashes into the second level. He's not a receiving threat with oven-mitt hands, but in an early down role running between the tackles, Williams can do plenty of damage. The question for 2015 is how many touches he'll actually get. Jennings is still atop the depth chart when healthy, and the Giants also signed Shane Vereen to take on at least some of the third-down duty. Vereen isn't a direct threat to Williams, but the more action Vereen sees on passing downs, the more snaps Jennings should get in other situations. Williams' best path to value might be via a serious injury to Jennings that leaves Williams and Vereen in a more traditional backfield tandem.

2014

A late-blooming downhill runner who exploded for 2,177 rushing yards in his senior year at Boston College, Williams was taken by the Giants in the fourth round this year and should immediately start competing for carries against none-too-established starter Rashad Jennings and enigmatic backup David Wilson. Though impressively athletic, the 5-11, 230-pound Williams has only middle-of-the-line speed and has shown little receiving ability, factors that work against him developing into a three-down back. Nonetheless, he's likely to see some extended run at some point, as both Jennings and Wilson have had their share of injury issues.